Monday, September 11, 2006

TERRORISM: UN FORCE IN LEBANON 'ENEMY OF ISLAM' SAYS AL-QAEDA NO.2

Lebanon, 11 Sept. (AKI) - Al-Qaeda's second-in-command Ayman al-Zawahiri has lashed out at the multinational United Nations force deployed to safeguard the ceasefire in Lebanon, describing it as a "enemy of Islam." Al-Zawahiri's remarks are contained in a video recording screened by the Arab satellite station Al-Jazeera, which seems aimed to coincide with the fight anniversary of the 11 Sept, 2001 al-Qaeda attacks in the United States."The most negative aspect of resolution 1701 [the UN resolution which among other things demands the deployment of the force] is that it decrees the presence of the Jewish state and divides the Palestinian and Lebanese mujahadeen through the international force, an enemy of Islam," al-Zawahiri said.

"Moreover it criminalises any Jihad against the Jewish state and criminalises the attacks of the mujahadeen," he added.

The Qatar-based Al-Jazeera said that in part of the footage Osama bin-Laden's deputy appeals to the Lebanese population to reject resolution 1701 and to take up arms against Israel and the West.